Image File Formats Explained
8 min read
There are dozens of image formats, but a handful do almost all the work. This guide explains what each common format actually is, where it shines, and which one to pick for a given job.
Lossy formats: small files, traded quality
JPG is the world's default photo format: universally readable, adjustable lossy compression, no transparency. WebP and AVIF are its modern successors, offering the same job with far better compression (WebP everywhere, AVIF for maximum savings). HEIC plays the same role inside the Apple ecosystem.
Lossless formats: pixel-perfect at larger sizes
PNG is the workhorse lossless format with full alpha transparency, ideal for screenshots, logos, and graphics. TIFF is the heavyweight of print and scanning workflows, with minimal compression and broad professional tool support. BMP is an uncompressed legacy Windows format that you should almost always convert to PNG.
Vector and animation
SVG is not a grid of pixels at all, it's XML describing shapes, so it scales infinitely and stays razor sharp on any display. Logos and icons belong in SVG. GIF is the 1987 format that survives through animation: 256 colors per frame, poor for photos but still the lingua franca of short looping clips (WebP and AVIF can animate too, with better quality).
Camera RAW
CR2 (Canon), NEF (Nikon), ARW (Sony), and DNG (Adobe's universal raw) are sensor dumps before processing. They give editors maximum latitude but require dedicated software or converters to view anywhere.
Cheat sheet
- Photos on the web → WebP or AVIF; JPG for compatibility
- Screenshots & graphics → PNG
- Logos & icons → SVG (PNG fallback)
- Animated loops → GIF for compatibility, WebP/AVIF for quality
- Print & scanning → TIFF
- Camera originals → RAW (keep) with exported copies